America's War on Poverty

An examination of the U.S. poverty programs created during the 1960s.

This powerfully constructed five-hour series documents the efforts under President Lyndon Johnson to create bold, original, economic strategies to help the nation's poorest and most disadvantaged Americans. Using rare archival footage and thoughtful interviews, each hour closely examines the power struggles that surrounded innovative programs like VISTA, Head Start and Model Cities. The series contradicts the popular assumption that the War on Poverty created the welfare state. It is historical programming that illuminates the current political debate.